Ak-Chin Indian Community hosts Native American Basketball Invitational tournament June 23-29

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The 17th Annual NABI Basketball Invitational brings thrilling competition to the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the town of Maricopa on June 23-29. Don’t miss a second of it!

The Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) showcases top high school athletes and teams from Native American and indigenous youth from around the country and Canada. Each year, a total of 128 teams are selected to compete, 64 boys’ teams and 64 girls’ teams.

Opening Ceremonies, Sunday, June 24, is a fantastic event where teams are paraded with their team flags and welcomed with a celebration, meals, music, and guest speakers. Tournament games run June 24-28, played at NABI host gyms around Maricopa. Watch all five days of the competition for $25, or one-day access passes are available for $10.

After a week of thrilling games, it all comes down to the NABI Championship Games, tipping off on Saturday, June 29 at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix. Doors open at 10 a.m. with $12.50 admission. Children age 5 and under and adults age 65 and older are admitted free to the tournament and the championship games. Opening ceremonies kick off at 10:45 a.m., and then the championship games start!

Will last year’s championship teams reign again? Or will new teams rise to the occasion? Boys’ and girls’ teams compete in one of two division levels. Last year, Savage Storm from the Seminole Tribe of Florida topped the boys’ Division 1 play, and Division 1 girls’ champions were NN Elite from the Navajo Nation. Taking the top spots in Division 2 play were Team Indigenous, a multi-tribe boys’ team, and SW Heat-KTYSP of the Kiowa Tribe for the girls.

While the games bring all the thrills and agony of a basketball tournament, NABI isn’t just about sports. The participants attend a college and career fair on Sunday before the tournament games begin. In addition, top student-athletes are recognized at an awards ceremony during the championship games on June 29. Also, the Junior NABI camp coaches’ younger players who are graduating from 8th grade, and these players present an exhibition game at 1:45 p.m. on June 29.

The NABI Foundation is a national organization committed to supporting Native American youth through programs that encourage higher education, sports, health, and community building. Come on out and support this worthy cause!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.